I picked up this little derringer a while ago. Wondering what time frame it is from.
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Help with a derringer
- Thread starter T4halo1
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Cute!! How is it fired?
Looks like a screw barrel to me. I would have bought it.
The trigger folds down.
Im hoping someone has a barrel wrench they’d sell?
Im hoping someone has a barrel wrench they’d sell?
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OK, thanks, looking closer now at the pics I can see the outlines.
Phil Coffins
69 Cal.
Mid to early 1800s when cartridges came out better designs took over but I bet they were carried longer.
Might be easier to make a barrel key then find the right one. You might try GENTLY to turn the barrel with a coin. Don’t try to hard!
Might be easier to make a barrel key then find the right one. You might try GENTLY to turn the barrel with a coin. Don’t try to hard!
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Could we see pics of the trigger folder down please?
What caliber is it?
That's a Belgium proof mark, 1810 to 1853...maybe someone else is more knowledgeable.
Percussion, so later 1820s to 1853
Percussion, so later 1820s to 1853
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I tried to remove the barrel using a coin. No luck. Here is a pic with the trigger down.
When comparing it to that dime it appears to be a very small gun. I couldn't quite comprehend the size earlier because hand sizes vary considerably.
Belgium Proofs.
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Nice looking little pistol. After you verify it is unloaded, you might try clamping it vertically in a soft-jaw vise, then put the hammer down on the nipple with a small piece of rubber between the two, then fill the bore with penetrating oil. Let sit for 24 hours or so, the GENTLY try to unscrew the barrel using a strap wrench.
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It is a screw barrel. Those four slots are not rifling, they are for a special key tool that is/was used to unscrew the barrel. Once that is done, powder is filled in the little chamber in the action. A soft lead ball is placed on top that fits in the barrel. However, it will not fit down the barrel. That is meant to give tight compression to the ball in the barrel, and when fired, provide more power to the small gun.
As somebody else said, use penetrating oil first, wait a while. WAIT! DANG IT!
Then put the action in a vice and use a strap wrench on the barrel.
Have fun, it probably was not shot much at all in its day.
The Doc is out now.
As somebody else said, use penetrating oil first, wait a while. WAIT! DANG IT!
Then put the action in a vice and use a strap wrench on the barrel.Have fun, it probably was not shot much at all in its day.
The Doc is out now.
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Do be careful trying to unscrew the barrel. Those bulbous sack grips have a tendency to crack especially if they are old. Compared to the amount of wood in them there is an awful lot of holes in it to accommodate bolts, screws and in letting of barrel and folding trigger. It drys out and is easily destroyed. Wish it wasn't but this is from personal experience.
right answer
If I had that little gun I would look to see if a model airplane propeller reamer would come close to fitting in the barrel. If the blades are too thick then carefully grind them down to fit the barrel slots. You can cut the smaller size steps off as desired too. The old Fox manufacturing prop reamer would be easier to grind to fit but the company had shut down and was sold to MECOA. I don’t know if they will make more or not. But the tools still show up on eBay etc. the Grest planes ones are nicer but may be harder to grind to fit.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fox...-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#piu=ps:29
https://www.google.com/search?q=fox...-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#piu=ps:29
back in the day we had expanding mandrills for use on a lathe you place it in the barrel and then adjust it tight then use a wrench to unscrew it. you should be able to go to a local machine shop and they should be able to help you out.
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